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MT-32 / GM / GS Sound module thread

I didn’t realize this thread was a thing.

I’ve been writing music on trackers (ATII) and wanted to transition to a different medium. I went down the MIDI rabbit hole last year and honestly it’s been a grand time.

I picked up some modules like the SC-55mkII, SC-88Pro, and Yamaha MU2000EX (with a bunch of PLG cards) to write on Domino. The transition was very smooth from tracker to DTM since Domino allowed me to really finetune Sysex commands step by step and use the included writer tools like chord stamps.

My favorite module has to be the SC-55 with how the instruments sound. I have to be conscious of the voice limit and play around with the limited effects, but that adds another layer of fun when writing and try to approach things in a different way.

I haven’t gotten around to using my modules with my W98 setup just yet, but the most I did was use DOSBox and this MIDI player; it was able to detect my SC-55 and 88 once configured. Wanted to see if my midi projects were able to play back correctly if distributed.
 
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Love my SC-55. I have a MU-50 and SC-55 stacked on each other, so I can play XG/GM/GS on that. I have them on separate inputs, it's fun to switch back and forth. Obviously in general the roland sounds "better" but the yamaha has some interesting sounds, and a beefy low end when fed the same midi notes as my SC-55. The DJ/Soundman in me wants to run them to a mixer and use/mute one instrument from each module for the ultimate mix lol

MT-32 update; recap is all good. Sound is great!

I need to update from 1.0.6 to 1.0.7, but I don't have 27c256's on hand, so I tried doubling the roms to 27c512 with no luck ?(

I dumped mine and verified against known dumps, and then from that same archive sourced the updated files.

Looking at pinouts for both EPROMS the only difference should be pin 1 being Vpp or A15 (highest address line). With the rom properly doubled this shouldn't matter right? The roms I burned also verify as a 27c256 to a programmer (though I know that's not a proper check)

I won't scratch my head on that too much, I'll just grab some 27c256's I think.
 
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skate323k137 said:
The DJ/Soundman in me wants to run them to a mixer and use/mute one instrument from each module for the ultimate mix lol
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I’ve seen some music projects where writers use the SC-88Pro (or 8850) and MU2000EX at the same time which leads to interesting results. That’s something I’d really like to explore down the line since both GS and XG definitely have a distinct sound that could be mixed matched. I always been a fan of the Roland drum sets, pads, strings, and sfx, but felt XG did a much better job with piano, wind instruments and the mixing effects they offered. XG Drums are kinda weak out the box and even with the DR-PLG card it doesn’t have that hit to it compared to Roland’s stuff. The inclusion of like the DX-PLG is so ill though.

Hopefully it doesn’t become an organization nightmare under the hood when combining those two.
 
EPROM mystery solved, the chips verified in programmer but wouldn't function in circuit. Burned 2 fresh 27c512's and I'm good to go :D

I'm so happy the roms were socketed (I had sockets on standby regardless). If I had soldered these in I would have been pissed... the chips that worked burned and verified exactly the same as the faulty one(s). Crazy rare but it happens, one of the roms must have had a faulty upper half. I always verify 2x, just goes to show that even when you double check your work, crazy stuff still happens.
 
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Pictures of the unit after recap/new roms:

0ZTdKzd.jpg


KVpKOVs.jpg


Video from the freshly serviced MT-32 with Sound from Space Quest 3:
https://imgur.com/YM1WlTb
 
FYI i finally connected the 9801CV with Midi;
Both Roland boards did not work (no idea why) so i did solder the RS232 Midi adapter;
http://ohta.music.coocan.jp/packen/module/serial.htm#Direct98
It says 1-2k resistor but you have to use 2k or you get some random inputs for directional keys!
It should be exactly the same pinout as x68000 but please double check before trying.
GM sounds insane, have to upload a video when i finally find some good 286 PC98 dos midi file player ^__^
 
Brettster said:
I remember the first time I got Doom up and running with my Gravis Ultrasound card, it was so much better than the Sound Blaster Pro, would like to experience a Roland up close an personal though
sounds amazing from the youtube vids
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This was a random and very cool thread for me to come across on the arcade forum. I'm still into beige box retro gaming. It never got better than the Gravis Ultrasound for tracking and the demoscene but these Rolands are very good for the specific midi scene. I recently saw someone has built an ISA card with a raspberry pi bolted onto it which emulates the MT 32, that was pretty impressive since the other pi emulators I've seen were external.
 
nassekova said:
Mine seems to have a newer 01 model of the PCB. How do you get the version displayed?
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with the unit off, hold 4 + RHYTHM + MASTER VOLUME and switch on while holding. It should display the version and a little message before finishing booting up.

I hope it's up to date, clearing the thru holes on these sucked (pin intended).
 
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Awesome thread. I bought a few of these sound modules in 20-21. Didn't really seek them out at first. I was building a new PC at the time, and was going to purchase a RTX series card. I had everything ready except for that. That's when the parts shortage hit. So while waiting I stumble onto vintage PC videos. It hit me with lots of nostalgia. So naturally I eventually ran into these sound modules. Even Japanese computers like the X68000 utilized them! And down the rabbit hole I went.

I still don't have my vintage PCs built yet, but I been building up for it. Got me a mt32, sc55, mu2000, and cm64! I'm just trying to figure out a build for all of them.
 
Bad_Hambre said:
Awesome thread. I bought a few of these sound modules in 20-21. Didn't really seek them out at first. I was building a new PC at the time, and was going to purchase a RTX series card. I had everything ready except for that. That's when the parts shortage hit. So while waiting I stumble onto vintage PC videos. It hit me with lots of nostalgia. So naturally I eventually ran into these sound modules. Even Japanese computers like the X68000 utilized them! And down the rabbit hole I went.

I still don't have my vintage PCs built yet, but I been building up for it. Got me a mt32, sc55, mu2000, and cm64! I'm just trying to figure out a build for all of them.
Click to expand...
Nice. In the mean time, I have used DOSbox with Fate of Atlantis and an SC-55. Run speech/sfx from your sound card thru audio in on the SC unit (or use a 2ch mixer if you're fancy). It sounds really really nice.

I actually have pondered myself what other retro computer emulators (i.e. x68k) will let you use MIDI output.
 
I thought maybe the MISTER let you use midi outputs? I might be wrong but there are USB MIDI switchers that you can plug into the MISTER and use your devices? Same with retro pies? Unless you are talking just software emulators like DOS BOX.
 
Yeah I'm just talking software emulators right now, i.e. using dosbox on a modern windows box with a roland USB MIDI interface hooked to the MT-32 or SC-55.
 
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Me idiot! Both Roland boards did not work because the PC98 was set to 286 compatible mode!
Set back to V30 (Dip 8 Bank 3) did fix the problem.
Steam Hearts Midi is so good! Game runs very chopy but who cares, it´s the slowest PC98 and im very proud :-)
These Casio Midi speakers are a good way to save some space if you can live with GM only
 
Did check the MT32 prices yesterday and in germany its around 300€ WTF?
Even the Ra-50 with MT32 mode is around 150€ now O___o
Both did sell for half around two years ago.
Have to stick with my 88 pro then!
 
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